40,000 nurses move step closer to f irst ever strike

MORE than 40,000 nurses in Scotland yesterday rejected a pay offer in an unprecedented step towards strike action.

Union leaders said members had demonstrated ‘clear’ support for a strike, in what would be the first action of its kind.

Ministers offered a 5 per cent pay rise to NHS Scotland staff backdated to April.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which represents more than 40,000 workers in Scotland, said the offer was a ‘real terms pay cut’ and it was left with ‘no option but to begin preparations for a statutory ballot’.

Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland board chairman, said: ‘We are angry and frustrated that the Scottish Government has yet again failed to address Scotland’s nursing workforce crisis.’

She also accused the Scottish Government of having ‘relied on the goodwill of nursing staff for too long’.

Meanwhile, 2,500 maternity staff from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have threatened to walk out over pay.

In the highest ever turnout for an RCM consultation in Scotland, nearly 90 per cent of those who voted indicated they now wish to be balloted on industrial action.

Unite Scotland, Unison and the GMB have also condemned the latest pay offer for healthcare workers, such as porters and paramedics, and said they were prepared to strike. Karen Leonard, Scotland organiser for GMB, said: ‘Soaring inflation and energy bills means the realterms value of this pay cut will get bigger each month.’

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s health spokesman, said: ‘This is the result of SNPGreen negligence and failure.’

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘We will re-engage with trade unions as soon as we can and hope to reach a satisfactory outcome.’